Patrick M. Hunt
How Judge Hunt decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Social Security appeals, recommends affirming the Commissioner and denying the claimant's motion where the ALJ permissibly weighed the treating-physician evidence and the decision is supported by substantial evidence.
“Magistrate Judge Hunt issued his Report, recommending that Plaintiff's Motion be denied ... Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 18] is hereby DENIED;”
For emergency preliminary relief, requires an actual and imminent injury rather than speculation, and considers concrete mitigation measures when evaluating irreparable harm and the breadth of the requested injunction.
“Although Plaintiffs' concerns are undoubtedly sincere, they offered little more than speculation that the parade of horribles suggested would actually occur, or even that they are likely to do so. ... For the foregoing reasons, the undersigned respectfully RECOMMENDS that Plaintiffs' Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction, ECF No. 10, be DENIED.”
Procedural preferences
On a motion for default judgment, recommends granting the default as to liability but reserving on damages where the only support is a conclusory affidavit.
“he suggests that the Court grant in part and deny in part the Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment ... grant the default but reserve judgment on the amount of damages because the Plaintiff's only evidence in support of its $800,000 damages claim is an affidavit that 'does not detail how Plaintiff came to the conclusion'”
Recommends staying a negligent-procurement claim when the related coverage action will determine whether the claimant has suffered the damages needed for the negligence claim to accrue.
“Here, Respondent's damages will only accrue if Plaintiff's request for declaratory judgment is granted. ... Casey Alexander Pickett's Motion to Abate, or in the Alternative, Stay the Third-Party Action, ECF No. 40, should be GRANTED.”
Before recommending approval of an FLSA settlement, reviews the compromise for disputed liability and damages and separately examines the reasonableness of the attorney-fee allocation.
“Accordingly, this Court finds that the Settlement Agreement is a fair and reasonable resolution of a bona fide FLSA dispute. ... Plaintiff's Motion to Approve Settlement. ECF No. 37, should be GRANTED, the Parties' Settlement Agreement APPROVED, and the case DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
Cautions
Recommends dismissal without prejudice for failure to prosecute where a plaintiff repeatedly fails to appear or retain counsel.
“recommending that this Court grant Defendants' Ore Tenus Motion and dismiss this case without prejudice given Plaintiff's continued non-compliance ... Defendants' Ore Tenus Motion to Dismiss [ECF No. 31] is GRANTED. This case is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Magistrate Judge Hunt issued his Report, recommending that Plaintiff's Motion be denied ... Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 18] is hereby DENIED;”
“and that Defendant's Motion be granted ... Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment [DE 22] is hereby GRANTED; The ALJ's decision is AFFIRMED”
“recommending that this Court grant Defendants' Ore Tenus Motion and dismiss this case without prejudice given Plaintiff's continued non-compliance ... Defendants' Ore Tenus Motion to Dismiss [ECF No. 31] is GRANTED. This case is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE”
“Defendant's Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction, or in the Alternative to Compel Arbitration and Stay Proceedings [DE 10] is GRANTED IN PART, as to the issue of dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction; The Complaint is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for lack of personal jurisdiction.”
“he suggests that the Court grant in part and deny in part the Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment ... grant the default but reserve judgment on the amount of damages because the Plaintiff's only evidence in support of its $800,000 damages claim is an affidavit that 'does not detail how Plaintiff came to the conclusion'”
“he determined that the Motion should be granted in part ... The Motion for Bill of Costs [ECF No. 66] is GRANTED IN PART. The Defendant shall recover taxable costs of $5,262.25”
“Magistrate Judge Hunt recommends that Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment, [DE 29], be DENIED.”
“Casey Alexander Pickett's Motion to Abate, or in the Alternative, Stay the Third-Party Action, ECF No. 40, should be GRANTED.”
“Magistrate Judge Hunt recommended that we deny all three grounds Leija raised in the Motion. ... After careful review, we OVERRULE Leija's Objections and ADOPT Magistrate Judge Hunt's R&R in full.”
“For the foregoing reasons, the undersigned respectfully RECOMMENDS that Plaintiffs' Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction, ECF No. 10, be DENIED.”
“Plaintiff's Motion to Approve Settlement. ECF No. 37, should be GRANTED, the Parties' Settlement Agreement APPROVED, and the case DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.”
“Defendants' Motion is GRANTED in part. The Defendants are hereby awarded $130 for serving summons and subpoenas. The Motion is otherwise DENIED.”
Put Judge Hunt's record to work
Ezel drafts and answers grounded in this exact profile: how Judge Hunt actually rules, not a generic AI guess.
Opens in Ezel Pro. Every answer is grounded in Judge Hunt's own signed orders and cites them.